Imported foods Ranch Market

[stefgrif]

Is anyone else frustrated that there seems to be very few imported foods on the shelves at many supermarkets (Ranch Market, The Food Hall)? I heard the government has made changes to what can be kept on the shelves....

[Ungentlemanly Conduct]

Never mind the food, it's the limited imported alcohol which bugs me. First they stop normal people using the duty frees, now the wine shops have run out of things like good malt whisky and gin etc. You can buy by the bottle from places like Loewy and Penang Bisto for now, but that won't last and it's expensive.

See the stupid comments in Jakarta Post from people agreeing that imported beverages should be stopped, so visitors are forced to "discover" local fare. I remember once I "discovered" Mansion House vodka; I was sick for a week.

I eat local tenderloin but all other local meat is too tough. Goat's head soup, anyone?

[Black Adder]

Stef, it seems that BPOM (the Indonesian equivalent of the Food and Drug Adnministration in the USA) does not have these products registered as being healthy and safe to import and to be eaten by the residents of Indonesia. It seems that the goods imported all of these years before have come in to Indonesia via dubious means and the Indonesian govt. is taking steps to protect your health. Be thankful they are watching out for...........

The article below is from this past Sunday's the 23rd of November Jakarta Post.

Spirits drying up in Jakarta cafes, hotels

The capital's food and beverage retail industry is struggling with a shortage in imported products, before an anticipated increase in demand for the goods during the year-end holidays.

Laura, the marketing executive of VIN+ wine shop in Kemang, South Jakarta, said liquor such as whiskey was in short supply, but the shop still had enough wine to meet demand until the new year.

"Wine prices are relatively high because it fluctuates with the U.S. dollar," Laura said recently.

Public relations officer of Nikko Hotel, Niki Ramadanu, also reported a scarcity in stock.

"We have had no problem in getting imported food, but the scarcity of liquor has continued for a couple months. It has been challenging finding a few certain brands," Niki said.

"But we have prepared enough stock of other liquor brands for this New Year's eve."

Some imported-food stores, like Kem Chicks and Ranch Market, on Saturday said they were also suffering from a scarcity of certain food and beverage products.

Rudy Sumampouw, secretary general of the Indonesian retailers association (Aprindo), confirmed the scarcity in imported food and beverages.

"Demand for liquor and imported food is likely to increase toward the end of the year, especially in tourist destinations such as Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta," Rudy said.

He said the government's ruling to watch over the circulation of illegal imported goods had caused scarcity of the goods among retailers.

The prices for imported beverages have soared since October this year, with demand outweighing supply considerably.

Restaurants, hotels and imported-food stores even have increased their prices of imported goods because the suppliers are charging higher rates due to the U.S. dollar rate, he said.

Many restaurants or hotels, however, prepared for the scarcity by purchasing food and beverages three months prior to the year-end holidays, Rudy said.

Indonesian food and beverage retailers have experienced a tough time over the past few months, following the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency's (BPOM) ongoing raids for imported food products.

The retailers have called for simplified and more concise requirements for registering imported products.

The spat over the regulations has lasted several years with no clear solution in sight.

Many of the products targeted by the BPOM had already passed food safety tests in their country of origin, but were not yet registered in Indonesia.

Consumers, especially expatriates, are also facing the impact of the scarcity.

Sachin Gopalan, an Indian national, said it was very difficult to buy imported food.

"So, we either stock up or get someone to bring it from Malaysia or Singapore," Sachin told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

He said there were a number of food items from home that helped ease his homesickness when overseas.

"It's already part of our lifestyle. When it is not available, we feel further from home," he said.

"It's like Indonesians not being able to buy instant noodles and sambal (chili sauces). Sure you can live without it, but why should you be deprived of them?"

[Black Adder]

Never mind the food, it's the limited imported alcohol which bugs me. First they stop normal people using the duty frees, now the wine shops have run out of things like good malt whisky and gin etc. You can buy by the bottle from places like Loewy and Penang Bisto for now, but that won't last and it's expensive.

See the stupid comments in Jakarta Post from people agreeing that imported beverages should be stopped, so visitors are forced to "discover" local fare. I remember once I "discovered" Mansion House vodka; I was sick for a week.

I eat local tenderloin but all other local meat is too tough. Goat's head soup, anyone?

UG, replace the city name of Alice Springs with Jakarta and Indonesia and....well, you get the message...........

[indotom]

My only concern is the use of liquor for cooking purposes. If have experienced strange food substitutions in my international travels this year. While in Singapore we ate some tirimasu dessert at two nice restaurants. The first substituted the expensive liquor that is supposed to be used as an ingredient for a cheaper type. We could taste the difference immediately. The second place was a Turkist restaurant. They substituted the liquor altogether for "essence of alcohol" because they were Muslim owned. Why don't they restaurants just remove the item from the menu if they can not make it properly!

For Indonesia the main problem is the fact that many laws are vague or baly written so that officials responcible for enforcing them have "wiggling space".

[April]

This is very discouraging to hear for someone who is returning to Indonesia to live. Do you think that perhaps this situation is only temporary?
I hope so very much that it is. I need my fresh salads and vegetables. Need Italian parmesan cheese if it ever was there and not that standard milk-taste so called parmesan in that green shaker. Need Thai fish sauce. Some alcohol and wine. Those imported NZ and Australian steaks, etc. All those dry herbs like origano, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley etc. Do they have these in the first place?
Thanks for your input.

[Black Adder]

This is very discouraging to hear for someone who is returning to Indonesia to live. Do you think that perhaps this situation is only temporary?
I hope so very much that it is. I need my fresh salads and vegetables. Need Italian parmesan cheese if it ever was there and not that standard milk-taste so called parmesan in that green shaker. Need Thai fish sauce. Some alcohol and wine. Those imported NZ and Australian steaks, etc. All those dry herbs like origano, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley etc. Do they have these in the first place?
Thanks for your input.

You could only hope so but doubtful right now. I only draw my conclusion from the actions. The same day that the head of customs announced the program regarding the enforcement of the import rules for food here then later that day, President SBY announced that the same Head of Customs would be extended in his current position for another year period starting the 1st of January 2009.........

[semut]

That Alice Springs sign is mainly focused towards Aboriginals, who often have drunk get togethers in parks etc. There are several "dry" aboriginal communities in Australia.

Oh the drink is running dry in Jakarta is it? Maybe some of my workmates will actually remember they have to teach and show up for work, instead of binge drinking and being hung over.

[Black Adder]

That Alice Springs sign is mainly focused towards Aboriginals, who often have drunk get togethers in parks etc. There are several "dry" aboriginal communities in Australia.

Oh the drink is running dry in Jakarta is it? Maybe some of my workmates will actually remember they have to teach and show up for work, instead of binge drinking and being hung over.

Don't blame it on the teachers, Semut. It is that bad crowd of journalists and oil workers they hangout with that take them down a level or 2..........


Besides your teaching colleagues are just trying to earn a spare buck or 2 by trying teach the oil patch fella how to read.............

[semut]

hahaha... yeh, they are a bad influence, I hear about their antics everyday.. thank god one of those journalists has dissapeared elsewhere... all I say is .. peace...opss i mean Piss